3 Dublin Zoners Get Lawyers

Removal Hearing Delayed

Dublin Borough Council has postponed a Monday night dismissal hearing for three Zoning Hearing Board members after the trio hired two lawyers and threatened to send the borough their legal bills.

Council moved to removed the three after the zoning board voted to fire its solicitor, Jeffrey Drake, whom council appointed in January.

Two of the three -- Chairman Larry Otter and Florence Rodgers -- also were appointed to the board in January; Otter for the first time and Rodgers for at least the third. Gerald Hallman, the third zoning board member threatened with removal, has served nearly two years.

Borough secretary Robert H. Edwards confirmed that the hearing was postponed and said no new hearing has been scheduled, but he declined further comment.

Councilman Russell Albanese confirmed that the board held an executive session on the matter Wednesday and said council wanted to seek further legal advice.

"It looks like it's going to continue on for some stupid reason," Albanese said. "My personal feeling is this has gone too far."

Otter has offered to act as legal counsel for the other two zoning board members, and the board selected Gregory Sturn of Warrington to represent Otter.

"Our position is they have an attorney who's going to prosecute and another who's going to advise," Otter said. "I think in fundamental fairness, if they're going to have a prosecutor, we're entitled to legal representation, too."

Asked what he would like to see happen now, Otter responded: "I hope it goes away."

Drake has removed himself from the squabble, saying he wanted no further part of it.

Albanese, too, said he was tired of the controversies surrounding the borough.